The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-01-19
THE TWO CONVENTIONS.
What Does 1t Mean ?

ouiI' "ihoiS thO w
our State papers, in advocacy Of
whatever pertains to the advance
ment of the\industrial interests Of
our people, in a recent issue, notices
the calls for two Farmers Conven-
tons, and very Naturally asks:
"What does it meanW The Journal
says one is called|by Gov. Scales on
the 18th-the other by the Editor Of
the PROGRESSIVE FARMER on the 26th.
inst. In this, our esteemed contem-
porary gives us undue prominence
and Importance. While the PROGRESS
sIvE FARMER, from it's first issue, has
advocated an annual Convention of
the Farmers, yet, in the matter Of
calling the Convention, it has acted
simply as the mouth-piece of the
farmers, just as did Gov. Scales in
the capacity. of chairman of the
Board of EdHestif6'n1: sTh Journal
admonishes Go73:Jarvis, as the pos
sible leader in the State campaign
of 1888, to adjust the seeming con-
fict and restore harmony, if he ex-
poets to triumph.
W. beg to assure our good friend,
the Journal, that sc far as the Pro
GREssIvE FARMER, or the great mass
OF farmers, whom it is proud to rep
resent, are concerned, there is no
conflict, nor will there be any, so
long a their rights in the premises
are properly respected.
Justice to them, however, requires
a plain statement Of facts, in answer
to the question, "What does it
mean ?" as doubtless the situation
has suggested the question to thou
sands of others throughout the State.
The matter has been discussed with
earnest interest, through private
correspondence, through this and
other papers, and in farmers clubs
and farmers meetings, for months.
In August last, the Forsyth Far
mers club. composed of ten sub
clubs, issued an address to the far
mers Of the State, strongly urging
a Farmers Convention. In NOvem-
Der, the club, in response to what
evidently appeared to be the senti-
ment of the farmers Of the State,
adopted resolutions, suggesting
Mass Convention of the farmers Of
the State, on the 10Th inst, at
Greensboro. In response to this
suggestion, resolutions were adopt
ed by clubs and numerous letters
we're received from prominent farm
ers in all sections of the State, all
endorsing the Convention, butshow-
ing a decided preference for Raleigh
as the place at which it should be
held. Before the time that the
place and date (Raleigh, the 26th)
was finally decided upon, a notice
from Gov. Scales, as ex-oficio chair
man Of the Board Of Agriculture,
was mailed to all the papers Of the
State, announcing that the Board
chad set apart the night ofthe 18th,
for a 'joint meeting Of the farmers
with the Board at Raleigh, "for the
discussion Of topics appertaining to
the material interests of the State"
We were fortunate in having
changed the date as well as the place
Of meeting, since it was plainly evil,
dent that those who attended the
meeting Of the Board in Raleigh on
the 18th, could not possibly have at
tended the Convention at Green's
boro on the 10Th nor was it contem-
plated by the Board, so far as could
be judged by the notice published,
that the meeting vas to the
proportions ola Convention for it"set
apart only one night for the "joint
meeting" and that was fixed on the
18th-the night before the proposed
Convention at Greensboro.
In the address of the Forsyth
county Farmers Club, quite a num-
Der Of very important matters were
suggested as proper subjects for con-
sideration by a Convention, and
which would, most probably, con-
sumo several days. One Of these
matters was to consider a plan by
which the Department of Agricul-
ture could be made more useful to
the farmers Of the State. Another,
and prominent matter, was to per
feet a plan Of permanent organiza-
ton, so as to secure an annual Con
vention of the farmers of the State;
besides there are a number of other
and equally important matters which
will engage the attention ofthe Con-
vention. Presumably, many ofthese
matters could not be considered ina
meeting called by the Board. 1t GER